Blue-Collar Work Surges in Popularity Among China’s Young Job Seekers

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Delivery workers in Nanjing on Oct. 2, 2021. Photo: VCG

The popularity of blue-collar jobs has surged among China’s young adults as demand has grown and wages risen compared with pre-pandemic levels, a report by a leading online hiring platform showed.

In the first quarter, the number of people under the age of 25 who applied for blue-collar jobs rose 165% compared with the same period in 2019, far outpacing the 62.4% growth in the number of job applicants of the same age group, according to a report published by online recruitment platform Zhaopin Ltd. on Thursday.

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The number of young adults applying for blue-collar jobs in China increased by 165% in Q1 compared to 2019, driven by higher demand and improved wages.
Blue-collar job recruitment almost quadrupled, with particular growth in sorting and delivery roles, as well as restaurant jobs, attracting young applicants.
The average monthly salary for blue-collar jobs in major cities rose by 35.8% to 7,215 yuan, outpacing overall salary growth by 7.6 percentage points.

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Who’s Who

Zhaopin Ltd.: Zhaopin Ltd. is a leading online recruitment platform that published a report highlighting the surge in popularity of blue-collar jobs among China’s young adults. The report showed a significant increase in job applications and demand for blue-collar positions, along with rising wages. Zhaopin monitors employment trends and provides data on job market shifts and salary growth.

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What Happened When

June 2023：: The surveyed urban unemployment rate for people aged between 16 and 24 hit a record high of 21.3%.

First quarter of 2024：: The number of people under the age of 25 who applied for blue-collar jobs rose 165% compared to the same period in 2019.

First quarter of 2024：: 44.1% of restaurant workers were under the age of 25.

First quarter of 2024：: The number of openings in blue-collar jobs almost quadrupled compared to the same period in 2019.

First quarter of 2024：: The monthly salary offered by blue-collar job recruiters in 38 major cities averaged 7,215 yuan, a 35.8% increase from the same period in 2019.